Environmental Law Network Members Gregory J. DeGulis, Polly B. Jessen and Michelle Diffenderfer Elected as Fellows of the American College of Environmental Lawyers

August 3, 2018; CLEVELAND, OH – Environmental Law Network Members Gregory J. DeGulis, Polly B. Jessen and Michelle Diffenderfer were recently selected as Fellows of the American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL).

Gregory, Polly and Michelle are among twenty-four attorneys from across the country to receive this honor in 2018.  Fellows are selected for distinguished experience, high standards of practice and substantial contributions to the field of environmental law. ACOEL members are dedicated to maintaining and improving the ethical practice of environmental law; the administration of justice; and the development of environmental law at both the state and federal levels.  For more information about the fellowship, visit https://www.acoel.org/.

Gregory J. DeGulis is the Chair of the Environmental Law Network and a Partner at McMahon DeGulis LLP.  He has 32 years of experience prosecuting and defending environmental and toxic exposure claims. Greg has significant experience in environmental cost recovery matters, environmental insurance litigation, construction litigation and natural resource damage cases. Industries represented include manufacturers, real estate developers, national railroads, wastewater treatment, contractors and municipalities. Greg leads the firm’s insurance recovery practice.  He can be reached at gdegulis@mdllp.net or at (216) 621-0577.

Polly Jessen is a Partner at Kaplan Kirsch Rockwell, her practice focuses on the range of contaminated property redevelopment issues, including environmental due diligence, negotiating purchase and sale agreements, cleanup plans, development agreements and environmental insurance policies, severed mineral interests, and professional service and construction contracting.  Polly advises and represents clients before regulatory agencies regarding remedy selection, administrative orders, cleanup standards, institutional controls, redevelopment, and community relations activities under voluntary cleanup agreements and regulatory orders.  She has drafted ordinances governing solid waste management and development standards for areas of statewide interest.  Polly also has drafted comments to regulatory agencies regarding wetlands permits and endangered species issues, and has prepared briefs and other pleadings in environmental and natural resource litigation and mediation proceedings.  She can be reached at pjessen@kaplankirsch.com or at (303) 825-7000.

Michelle Diffenderfer is Shareholder and President of Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A.  She assists landowners with understanding the environmental, natural resource and land development laws and regulations that affect their property. Michelle helps clients navigate these laws and regulations in the permitting of their land development and infrastructure projects. Michelle is the Budget Officer for the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources and is Past Chair of the Florida Bar’s Environmental and Land Use Law Section.  She can be reached at mdiffenderfer@llw-law.com or at (561) 640-0820.

About ELN

The Environmental Law Network (ELN) was the first environmental law firm network to make local representation available nationwide. Through ELN, more than 250 environmental attorneys share ideas, information, experiences, and contacts to increase the value of legal representation for their respective clients. ELN also has foreign affiliates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, France, Italy, Mexico and Spain. Leaders in each of the member firms average more than 20 years of experience in the field.  For more information, contact Greg DeGulis, Chair of the Environmental Law Network at gdegulis@mdllp.net or by calling 216-367-1403.